Abstract Background: Various nutritional supplements may play a role in reducing cell stress to intense exercise. In the present study, the effect of salvia officinalis extract on serum levels of p53 and CK after a downhill running was investigated Methods: 14 healthy men (age, 24.4±3.5 yr; body mass index, 22.46±1.5 kg/m2) were randomly placed in two conditions of sage and placebo. Subjects took 500 mg capsules of sage extract (two daily) or placebo for two weeks. After 14 days, subjects performed downhill running at 12% downhill grade at about 70% of the maximum heart rate until volitional exhaustion (30 minutes). Blood sampling was performed before and immediately after the running workout for the measurement of the serum p53 and CK concentrations. Results: The results showed that in the sage condition, the changes in p53 levels in the before exercise compared to the after running were not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.14). In the placebo condition, p53 levels in the post- running increased significantly compared to the pre- running (p ≤ 0.001). Also, CK levels in the post-running only in the placebo condition increased significantly compared to the pre- running (p ≤ 0.007). Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that downhill running as eccentric contraction may lead to cell apoptosis and muscle damage by increasing p53 and CK levels, but short-term sage supplementation is likely inhibiting increased apoptosis and muscle damage marker in serum induced by acute exercise
